Preparing for a Tropical Cyclone: Alone and Off Grid

There is a tropical cyclone heading straight towards us! Join us on a week of prepping our off grid farm for disaster. We harvest bananas, spend some time in the lake and then start the thousands of jobs before this cyclone hits.

We are sisters, Julia and Anastasia Vanderbyl. A few years ago, we began a journey to live a life in perfect harmony with nature. A life of caring for animals, growing fruit, planting trees, gardening, cooking, creating, building and learning to live with the land.
In this time, nature has taught us more than we could have ever imagined.

Our environmental films document the landscape, the lessons we’ve learnt and our work as regenerative farmers here on Bundjalung Country.

We live on the land of the Arakwal and Minjungbal People of the Bundjalung Nation. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Country we live on and recognise their continuing connection to the land and waters. We thank them for protecting this rainforest and its ecosystems since time immemorial.

Chapters:
0:00 There’s a tropical cyclone coming!
0:43 Growing my own food: Harvesting bananas in the orchard
6:11 Naughty goats
8:18 Snakes and relaxing at the lake
10:04 Preparing for a devastating natural disaster! This cyclone is coming!

[MotherTheMountain]

The full force of the cyclone is hitting in the next few days. It’s already wild, the biggest winds we’ve ever seen and we’ve already had over 160mm of rain. We’re not sure how long until the power goes out so we’re posting early this week. We have the ducks in the bathroom right now (lol), the goats are sheltering in the shed and the sheep are safe in their shed/paddock. We don’t know when we’ll be online again so sending lots of love!

[Elephantree]

I probably speak for so many of us who are lucky enough to have found your channel that we cherish your videos.They bring me peace and joy and so many other things.
I live in Florida and have been thru two major hurricanes lately and can get overwhelming before during and after, but am confident you will be ok, because of the strength of your spirits.
To all your family and community We Love You!!! And praying for you.

[daydreamer]

Hello Anastasia, Julia and mum. You are so hardworking. Take care always and I'm always praying for your safety.

[harvestlife]

Nature’s power is unpredictable—your survival skills are truly impressive!

[pilgrim]

You have a life of grace and freedom. It is also given to someone who has it. ☺ ️

[michaelhightower]

My love and prayers are with you and your family Anastasia.❤️

[philiphemmings]

I love watching you 2 sisters, you are a joy 2 watch ladies. ❤

[Mr.C]

Good luck, stay safe, things can be replaced, Mother, Girls,clover stay safe Good Thoughts and Prayers 🙏🙏🙏🐕 stay safe !!!

[williamhenry]

It's interesting to see how others deal with nature. I live off the grid in California (no electric, water, or sewer lines). Also, there is no computer, wifi, or TV service, only an android phone. We get high winds and fire. We had a 427 square mile (1, 100 square kilometer) fire here years ago. Right now, it's snowing. Love your truck. I have a 1970 Toyota Hilux.

[PaulGibbings]

Stay safe, your bravery always astounds me.

[kennethcook]

may all your hard work stay intact and that you all stay safe during the storm and await your return !

[WilliamB-vp]

Please stay safe and hopefully this will pass without any issues, sending lots of love and support from the States take care...Will

[gordyP]

Hope you are fairing well. Love the beauty of the videos you post. You are an inspiration. Great artistic filming. Love your artwork. Weather the storm.

[carlosvallejo]

Anastasia, good luck to you and your family. Keep them safe 💪🏻💪🏻❤️👍🏻👍🏻

[jenna]

Beautiful farm! A tip would cutting off the hands one at a time, this makes it easier to move, easier to wash (can be mouse/rat poo, spiders etc), easier to ensure they dont all ripen at the same time as green Cavendish are so tasty cooked! Good luck from another banana loving gal in Northern Rivers x

[makalu]

Just up the road from you girls - had no power for 7hrs today.

Totally frustrating how Alfi has come to a halt getting a little stronger with these really warm seas atm.
Was on the GC today, Kirra was huge, ghost town, everything shut.

Let’s see how big this thing gets.

Take care and no trees to come down ❤️❤️

[dlbracer]

Be safe, stay prepared. I live in the panhandle of Florida. We get frequent storms and a few hurricanes. This week in fact we are dodging several lines of severe thunderstorms that have spawned tornadoes and damaging winds in other parts of the deep south. I enjoy the channel and the content. Sort of a "woulda, shoulda, coulda" with all the opportunities I never took advantage of.

[judykarey]

#1, prepare, take notes. #2, Do list of notes. Awesome video.
Amazing to see and hear this much rain !

[russbetts]

Hi Anastasia, Julia and Mother. Thank you for this video of the impending Cyclone. I hope it doesn't cause you too many problems. My Sister lives on the coast near Brisbane. They live in a small forested community and have ben ordered to evacuate, due to the danger of falling trees. The storm is being shown on TV, here in the UK. Love, Russ xxx

[MarcvanExel]

Wishing you well and hope you get through it without any damage. Stay safe!